How to Detect Used Car Paint Job Layers
with
Barbara Terry
When shopping for a car, there are a few ways to determine if it's had prior paint work. See what to look for in a car's paint job to uncover clues about the car's accident history and resale value.
Transcript: How to Detect Used Car Paint Job Layers
Hi, I'm Barbara Terry for About.com Autos. Just because a car has had paint work does not necessarily mean it's going to be a problem for you in the future. When shopping for a car, there are a few ways to determine if a car has had prior paint work.Check Paneling for a Previous Paint Job
A body shop will typically tape off a panel before painting on it. To determine this, you'll simply take your finger and run it along the door jamb. If you can feel a ridge, in the industry we call that a tape line. It means that the panel was painted on. You'll want to repeat that process on all the panels, the hood, the 2 front fenders, and of course the deck lid.Look for Signs of a Paint Job on the Molding
Another way to determine paint work would be if the body shop got overspray on the molding. Sometimes panels have to be removed and re-mounted. You can tell if the panels have been removed or replaced if the paint on the screws like this one is chipped off.Find the VIN Plates
Also, all cars have VIN plates like this one on all the panels. If you come across a panel that does not have a VIN plate it may mean that the panel was replaced with an aftermarket one.Bottom Line of Used Car Paint Jobs
I've owned a ton of cars in the past, some with paint work. And some that participated in accidents, causing me to get parts of my cars repaired and painted. Just because a car has paint work I would not be leery of it. And you may be able to get a better deal when purchasing it.Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the Web at autos.about.com.